These are the most-visited national parks in the U.S.

America’s national parks just had their busiest year ever—right as the National Park Service (NPS) struggles with major staffing cuts. In 2024, a record-breaking 332 million visitors explored the country’s national treasures, from towering peaks to serene coastlines. That’s nearly a million more than the previous high in 2016 and 2% more than in 2023.

With 28 parks setting individual visitation records, the numbers paint a clear picture: people are craving the great outdoors more than ever. Places like Capitol Reef in Utah, Dry Tortugas in Florida and Kenai Fjords in Alaska saw unprecedented crowds. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is once again the most popular park, with a staggering 12.1 million visitors, followed by Zion, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Rocky Mountain National Park.

RECOMMENDED: The best national parks to visit in the U.S.

The news comes as the parks prepare to deal with drastic cuts. The Trump administration’s push to shrink the federal workforce led to a nearly 10% cut in NPS employees, with about 1,000 workers laid off just before Valentine’s Day. That means fewer rangers, fewer maintenance crews and fewer people to manage the influx of visitors.

Advocates warn that the effects are already showing, as some parks have cut hours, limited programs and seen longer wait times at entrances. Keeping parks clean, safe and well-maintained with fewer hands on deck will be a challenge as summer approaches. Without enough staff to support the parks, fears that the visitor experience—and the parks themselves—may start to suffer are growing. If you’re planning a trip, be prepared for crowds, longer lines and possibly fewer services, so bring a little more patience with you when you go.

Ten most visited national parks in the U.S.

1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee—12.1 million
2. Zion National Park, Utah—4.9 million
3. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona—4.9 million
4. Yellowstone National Park, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming—4.7 million
5. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado—4.1 million
6. Yosemite National Park, California—4.1 million
7. Acadia National Park, Maine—3.9 million
8. Olympic National Park, Washington—3.7 million
9. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming—3.6 million
10. Glacier National Park, Montana—3.2 million